XRP News Today: ETF Deadline Looms as XRP Nears $3.00 Breakout Threshold

XRP rose 3% in early October 2025, driven by institutional demand linked to Japan's SBI Holdings expanding XRP lending services and anticipation of U.S. ETF approvalsXRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1]. The token traded above $3.00, consolidating near a short-term support floor at $2.99 as elevated volumes signaled institutional participationXRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1]. SBI's initiative, part of Japan's broader crypto strategy, added liquidity to XRP markets, while seven ETF applications under SEC review positioned regulatory clarity as a key catalystXRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1]. Analysts noted that the first ETF decisions, expected by October 18, could amplify speculative flows, with prediction markets pricing approval odds above 99%XRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1].

Technical analysis highlighted XRP's price action within a $2.95–$3.10 range, with resistance hardening at $3.10 after heavy trading volumes capped upside movementsXRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1]. A surge to $3.06 on 212.6 million tokens in a single hour underscored institutional activity, though consolidation near $3.00–$3.05 suggested accumulation ahead of a potential breakoutXRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1]. The 200-day EMA at $2.6160 provided foundational support, while the 50-day EMA at $2.9220 offered intermediate downside protectionXRP Jumps to $2.95 as Japan’s SBI Launches Lending - Crypto …^[4]. Traders monitored whether XRP could sustain closes above $3.00 to test $3.10 resistance, with a sustained break potentially unlocking a path toward $3.20XRP Gains 3% as SBI Lending and ETF Catalyst Drive Flows^[1].

Institutional demand for XRP intensified as exchange inventories dwindled, with Coinbase's holdings falling nearly 90% to 100 million tokensXRP Price Prediction After October 2025 ETF Approvals^[5]. Analysts argued that ETF approvals could trigger a "supply shock," forcing institutions to pay higher prices to acquire XRP from long-term holders, many of whom had purchased between $0.20 and $3.00XRP Price Prediction After October 2025 ETF Approvals^[5]. Projections suggested $5–$8 billion in inflows during the first month of ETF launches, surpassing Bitcoin's early ETF performanceXRP Price Prediction After October 2025 ETF Approvals^[5]. Ripple's partnerships with banks and stablecoin projects further bolstered XRP's utility, with pilot programs in Palau, Montenegro, and Brazil testing its role in CBDCs and cross-border paymentsXRP Price Prediction After October 2025 ETF Approvals^[5].

The U.S. SEC's October deadlines for six XRP ETF applications-Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, and others-created a focal point for market participantsXRP Price Prediction: How XRP Could React After OCT 2025 SEC ETF Decisions^[3]. A favorable ruling on October 18 could catalyze immediate volatility, while subsequent decisions through October 25 would shape broader institutional adoption timelinesXRP Price Prediction: How XRP Could React After OCT 2025 SEC ETF Decisions^[3]. Market observers noted parallels to Bitcoin's ETF-driven rally in 2024, though XRP's smaller market cap and concentrated institutional demand could accelerate price movementsXRP Price Prediction: How XRP Could React After OCT 2025 SEC ETF Decisions^[3].

Despite short-term gains, risks lingered. A breakdown below $2.99 could trigger a retest of $2.80 support, with broader macroeconomic conditions and regulatory outcomes influencing longer-term trajectoriesXRP Jumps to $2.95 as Japan’s SBI Launches Lending - Crypto …^[4]. However, sustained demand from SBI's lending program and ETF-related inflows positioned XRP for a potential $3.50–$4.00 target within three months, contingent on regulatory and technical confirmationsXRP Jumps to $2.95 as Japan’s SBI Launches Lending - Crypto …^[4].